Brett Newski’s fourth studio album Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down (due out April 17th) is a call to arms against whatever destructive forces we may find ourselves battling, from our individual struggles with toxic relationships, low self esteem, loneliness and apathy to the more global challenges facing us in 2020: The erosion of face-to-face human connection, the breakdown of the proverbial village, the destruction of the planet, and the myriad ways in which our social media addictions amplify these problems. Depression and anxiety are at all time highs, with many, if not most of us, struggling to preserve our optimism.
So how do we regain control and stay hopeful in the face of these challenges? Perhaps it’s less screen time. Perhaps it’s changing the way we approach our tiny pocket TVs. Perhaps it’s discovering or recommitting to our passions. Perhaps it’s getting our hands dirty in pursuit of real solutions to our problems (instead of just complaining online). Perhaps Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down can shed some positive insight.
What could topically threaten to amount to “too much reality” for the listener is buoyed by Newski and collaborator Spatola’s signature blend of largely up-tempo, guitar-driven alternative with splashes of what they describe as “Geek Rock”, “Happy Punk”, and “Diet Grunge”. The band has had a busy few years, playing alongside acts like the PIXIES, Courtney Barnett, Violent Femmes, Better than Ezra and Manchester Orchestra, and will (hopefully) be touring extensively in 2020 in support of this latest release.
Today Glide is excited to premiere the music video for “Grow Your Garden,” a standout track that finds Newski issuing a wake-up call from the hypnotic, numbing effects of living with our eyes glued to our screens as he sings “If I was the dirt beneath the sneakers on your soulless feet / I’d nudge you far from the mirage so you could see the water”. With a thick guitar riff and a heavy drum beat that feels arena-ready, Newski’s lyrics and vocals hit hard like a call to arms. Except, in this song he is sending out a rallying call for people to take care of themselves by any means necessary as he uses the metaphor of growing a garden. With a big indie rock sound that brings to mind the Black Keys, Spoon and Beck, Newski unleashes a torrent of socially relevant and hard-hitting commentary that rings especially true as we all grapple with being stuck in isolation due to a worldwide pandemic. The video was shot around the streets of Tokyo and showcases Newski rocking out to strangers alongside fiery performance footage.
Brett Newski shares some insight on the inspiration behind the song:
“The world is more competitive than ever and people are feeling inferior to their peers, whether they are at the top of the mountain or not. Grow Your Garden is a song about taking care of yourself in manic times. It’s about ignoring the traps of comparison that the internet brings to the mayhemic modern world.”
WATCH:
Don’t Let the Bastards Get You Down is due out April 17th. Visit brettnewski.com for more music and info.
